Movable bulkhead structure



P 1943- .Ls. LUNDVALL 'V 2,328,820'

MOVABLE BULKHEAD STRUCTURE I V Filed April 22, 1942 4 Sheets-sheet l f ,1 7, 1:6 29

Sept. 7, 1943. s. LUNDVALL & 3

MOVABLE BULKHEAD STRUCTURE V Filed April 22, 1942 4 Sheet s'-Sheet 2 1/ Sept. 7, 1943. J. s. LUNDVALL MOVABLE BULKHEAD STRUCTURE Filed April 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 7,- 1943 'MOVABLE BULKHEAD STRUCTURE i John S. Lundvall, Chicago, m., assigno' to Union Asbestos &a Rubbe; Company, Chicago,

lll., a. corporation of Iliino I Application April 22,'1942, Serial No. &40,027

This invention relates to movable bulkheads and more particularly to bulkheads movably mounted refrigerator or like cars to form ice bunkers adjacent the ends of the caror to move to a retracted position against the end of the car to increase the lading space.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a movable bulkhead for refrigerator cars' or the like of a relatively simple and inexpensive Construction yet which operates easily to move from its retracted to its extended position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a movable bulkhead Suspended from tracks in the top of the car and adapted to be raised and lowered by a system of simple links and levers. Preferably a plurality of parallel tracks are pro- .Vided to support the bulkhead without additional bracing or like means and the link and lever system is interconnected so thatthe bulkhead may be raised uniformly throughout its width.

Another ,object of the invention is to provide a movable bulkhead which is freely movable in the car when in its` raised position and which is held rigidly against movement when it is lowered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a movable bulkhead having associated therewith a hatch cover automatically moved into register with a hatch opening in the car when the bulkhead is retracted. According to one feature the bulkhead and hatch cover are pivotally co'nnected so that raising and lowering of the bull:- head will not interiore with the mounting oi the hatch cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. movable bulkhead having a latch automatically operable to hold it in raised position when it is raised.

The above and other objects and advantages i of the invention will be apparent from the following description of theembodiment `shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure '1 is a partial longitudinal section of a reifrigerator car equipped with a convertible bulkhead according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the bulkhead in a' different position;

Figure 2a is a partial elevation showing the opening for cooperation with the latch bar at the top of the bulkhead;

Figure 3 is a partial plan View of .the car;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a Construction for anchoring the lower end of the bulkhead;

Figure 5 is a partial elevation of the bulkhead showing the raising mechanism taken on the line 5-5 of Figura 2; p

15 ca ms; (c. -376) Figure 6 is an' enlarged partial section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and' Figure 7 is a partial section on the line 1-.-1 of Figure 6.

The car illustrated in the drawings may he a more or less conventional refrigerator car having' an end wall i@ and top and bottom walls H and &2 with inner sheathing 03 spaced therefrom to provide a hollow wall which maybe insulated by insulating material indicated at M. opening I 5 is provided in the top of the car adjacent its end for filling 'the ice bunker portion of the car with ice, a suitable external cover, not shown, being providedtfor the hatch opening.

At the end of the car inside of the sheathing &3 there is provided a sheet metal duet se having a perforated'inner face and forming a convection duet for circulating cooled air throughout the car when it is used' as a refr'gerator car. The bottom of the car in the intermediate lading space carries a floor rack il and the' end of the car is providedwith a series of longitudinal beams lil spaced above the 'floor thereof and supported by' a cross beam i@ in the lower part of the car. Floor racks Zi are hinged at 22 adjacent the sides of the car and may be swung up for cleaning the floor oi' the car. An ice-grate 23 is pivotally supported adja'cent the end of the car and is adapted to be swung to a hori zontal position to support a load of ice in the top portion of the bunker.

A bulkhead indicated generally at M is slidably supported in the car and is movable therein from a retracted position adjacent the end wall to an extended-position spaced from the end wall V to' provide an ice-bunker space therebetween.

The-bulkhead, as shown, is formed by a plurality of vertically extending channel beams 25 with their open channels facing toward the center 'of the car and formed with fianges carrying a wall portion 26. As shown, thetwall portion terminates short of the top of the channel beams to provide a space thereabove for air circulation and'the beams 'preferably extend sligh'tly below i the bottom edge of the wall portion, as shown.

The bulkhead is'adapted to be suspended from V a pair of horizontal track 27 extending longitudinally adiacent the-top of the car and slidably r i supporting carriages 28 provided wlthtrollers 29 at their ends. According to one feature of the invention, the tracks 21 are supported above the ceiling of the car in a recess at one end thereof so that the lading space of the car is not interfered with'. straps 3! are connected to the cari riages and extend downwardly therefrominto A hatch the open channels of two of the beams 25 respectively. As shown in Figure 6, the .upper ends of the channels may be closed by a capping stri 32 which is provided with slotted openings to receive the straps 3l. Each strap at its lower end carries a threaded rod' 33 extending into a yoke or loop 34 and adjustably connected thereto by nuts 35. The yoke or loop 34 has rigidli secured to its lower end a rod or strap 36, extending downwardly through the open channel' of the beam to a point adjacent its central portion but preferably above the center .thereof.

The straps or rods 36 are connected to the bulkhead by means of levers 31 extending into the open channel portions of the beams and pivoted thereto at their outer ends on bolts 38 which extend across the channel and are secured in the sides thereof. A shown, the levers comprise spaced parts between which the strap or rod 36 passes and the lower end of each rod 36 is pivotally connected to the corresponding lever 31 by a bolt or rivet 4l spaced longitudinally of the lever from the pivot connection 38.

'In order that the levers 31 may operate freely the wall 26 of the bulkhead is cut away to form longitudinally extending slots opening into the channels of the beams and into which the levers may swing. The two levers 31 are connected at 'their tops by a rigid channel member 42 so that they may both be operated together, it being apparent that when the levers are swung downwardly the bulkhead will be raised while when the levers are allowed to be swung upwardly to the position' shown in Figures 1 and 7, the bulkhead will be lowered.

When the levers 31 are swung down to raise the bulkhead they may be held down to latch the bulkhead in raised position by a pair of levers 39 pivoted to the channels and carrying a latch bar 40. The latch bar is received in notches 31a and 31b adjacent the outer ends and in the central portions respectively of the levers 31. Whenthe levers 31 are raised to lower the bulkhead as shown in Figures and 6, the bar 40 lies in the outer notches 31 so that the levers 31 may be moved closely against the bulkhead without interference. The levers may be held in this position by a latch in the form of a bent plate or arm 31 pivotally connected to the bulkhead as shown in Figure 6.

When the levers 31 are pulled down to raise the bulkhead the latch will follow with the bar 40 riding against the upper surface of the levers until it drops into the notches 3 1 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6. Thus the latch will hold the levers against swinging up under the weight of the bulkhead. To lower the bulkhead the latch maybe released manually to allow the lever 31 to move up. i

`The bulkhead is adapted to be rigidly held in either its extended or retracted position by interengaging means on the opposite ends of the bulkhead and on the car which engage when the bulkhead is lowered but are free when the bulkhead is raised. This means, as shown, at the upper end of the bulkhead comprises a cross bar or plate 43 secured to the top of the bulkhead and extending transversely across it to terminate in T-shaped heads 44` at its opposite ends. One of the T-shaped heads 44 is adapted to cooperate with a slot 45 formed in the upper portion of the duct !6 having an enlarged upper end through which the T-shaped head may pass and a r duced lower end for engaging the head. When the bulkhead is in its raised position the head 44 .The bulkhead may then will register with the enlarged upper portion oi the slot while when the bulkhead is lowered the head 44 will engage behind the edges of the slot and hold the bulkhead against movement away from the end wall of the car. At the opposite end of the tracks the other head 44 cooperates with a similarly shaped slot 46 in the outer surface of a sheet metal beam 41 extending transversely across the car above the ceiling level thereof and serving to support one end of the tracks 21.

The lower end of the bulkhead is adapted to be held against movement when in its lowered position ,by means of bar 5! spaced longitudinally of the car and supported on the beams !8. The bars 5| may, if desired, be formed of sheet metal secured to the beams 's by projections 52 extending through the tops of the beams and bolted or riveted to the side walls thereof. As shown, two sets of bars are provided, one set adjacent the end of the car to receive the lower ends of the channel beams 25 when the bulkhead is in its retracted position and another set spaced from the end of the car to receive the lower end of the channel beams when the bulkhead is in its extended position. Preferably, the upper surfaces of the bars 5l are substantially fiush with the floor racks l1 and 2l to provide a substantially continuous floor surface in the car. In order to anchor the lower ends of the beams more securely blocks 53 may be secured to the beams s between the bars 51 to fit into the open lower ends of the channel beams when they are lowered.

In order to close the hatch opening |5 to prevent ingress to the car when the bulkhead is retracted, a hatch cover 54 i provided. The hatch cover is preferably formed by a series of spaced bars or arms, the ends of which extend into the open channels of the beams 25 and-are pivotally connected thereto by pivot pins 55. The outer end of the hatch cover is slidably supported on a pair of tracks 56 mounted on the sides of the car adjacent the top and receiving the ends of a transverse pin 51 carried by the hatch cover. The hatch cover extends the full width of the car so that it may be supported on tracks on the sides of the car and so that foreign material cannot enter the car around its sides. v

In operation when the car is to be used as a refrigerator car the bulkhead is moved to the position shown in Figure 1 and is lowered to interengage the T-shaped head oi the bar 43 with the slot' 46 and to drop the lower ends of the channel beams 25 between the spaced bars 5! on the beams !8. In this position the bulkhead is rigidly held against movement at a point spaced from the end of the ear to provide an ice-bunker space adjacent the carend.

When it is desired to use the car as a ventilated car without refrigeration, the levers 31 may be swung down to raise the bulkhead thereby freeing the bar 43 from the slot 46 and elevating the lower ends of the beams 25 above the bars 5I. be pushed back against the end of the car riding on the tracks 21 until it is in its extreme retracted position. At this time the levers 31 may be swung upwardly lowering the'bulkhead so that its lower ends will en-. gage with the bars 5| and so that 'the head 44 on the bar 43'will interlock with the slot 45. During this operation the hatch cover 54 is moved into register with the hatch, the pivot connection between the hatch cover and the bulkhead permitting the bulkhead to be raised and lowered freely without interference from the hatch cover.

While one em'bodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a. definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or `the like comprising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks adjacent the top of the car, rollers riding on the tracks respectively, a vertical bulkhead below the tracks. 'links Suspended from the rollers, a pair of levers pivoted at spaced points to the bulkhead intermediate its height and to the links respectively, and a. bar rigidly connecting the free ends of the levers whereby they are moved together.

2. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like comprising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks adjacent the top of the car, rollers riding on the tracks respectively, a Vertical bulkhead below the tracks including a plurality of spaced vertical channel beams and a wall portion secured to the open channel side of the beams, a pair of links Suspended from the rollers respctivelyand lying within the channels or' two of the beams, a pair of levers pivoted respectively at spaced points adjacent one end to the links and to said beams, and a bar rigidly connecting the opposite ends of the levers whereby they may be moved together.

3. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like comprising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks adjacent the top of the car, a vertical bulkhead in the car below the tracks. means suspending the bulkhead rom the tracks and adjustable to raise and lower the bulkhead, a transverse beam secured to the top oi' thejcar adjacent one end of the tracks and having latch means thereon, and a T-shaped member secured to the top of the bulkhead and adapted to enter the latch means when the bulkhead is raised and moved longitudinally of the car and to engage the latch means when the bulkhead is lowered to hold the bulkhead against movement.

4. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like comprising a pair of spaced horizontal tracks adjacent the top of the car, a vertical bulkhead in the car below the tracks, means suspending the bulkhead from the tracks and adjustable to raise and lower the bulkhead, a transverse beam secured to the top of the car adjacent one end oi the tracks and having an opening therein with an enlarged upper portion' and a reduced lower portion, a wall adjacent the end of the car formed with an opening having an enlarged upper portion, and a plate secured to the top of the bulkhead and formed with a T-shaped portion at each side thereof, one part of which is adapted to engage one of` said openings when the bulkhead is at one end of the tracks and the other partof which is adapted to engage the other of said openings' when the bulkhead is at the other end of the tracks.

5. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like having a series oi! longitudinally extending floor beams adjacent its floor comprising track means adjacent the top of the car, a vertical bulkhead, means suspending' the bulkhead from the track means' and adjustable to, raise and lower the bulkhead, and spaced bars on the beams to receive the lower end of the bulkhead between them when the. bulkhead is l'owered to prevent movement thei-ect, the lower end of the bulkhead clearing the bars when the bulkhead is raised.

6.' A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like having a series of longitudinally extending floor beams adjacent its floor comprising track means adjacent the top of the car, a vertical bulkhead, means suspending' the bulkhead from the track means and adjustable to raise and lower the bulkhead, the bulkhead including vertical channel beams open at their bottom, spaced bars on the floor beams to receive the lower ends of the channel beams between them, and blocks carried 'by the floor beams between the bars to fit into the lower open ends of the channel beams.

7. A movable bulkhead structure for a reirigerator car or the like having a hatch opening in its top comprising track means in the car longitudinally coextensive with the hatch opening, a bulkhead supported on the track means for movement thereon from a retracted to an extended position, a hatch cover pivotaily connected tudinally coextensive with bulkhead supported on the track means for moveat one end to the bulkhead, and means slidably supporting the other end of the hatch cover.

8. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like having a hatch opening in its top comprising track means in the car longi tudinally coextensive with the hatch opening, a bulkhead supported on the track means for move-. ment thereon from a retracted to an extended position, means for raising and lowering the bulkhead, means to hold the bulkhead against movement when it is lowered, a hatch cover pivotally connected at'one end to the bulkhead,` and means slidably supporting the other end .of the hatch cover.

i 9. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like having a hatch opening in its top comprising track ment thereon from a retracted to an extended position, the bulkhead including a series of vertical 'channel beams, a hatch cover including a pair of supporting arms 'projecting t one end into the channels of two of the beams and pivoted thereto, and means for slidably supporting the opposite ends of the supporting arms.

10.' A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like having 'a hatch opening in its top comprising track means in the car longitudinally coextensive with the hatch opening, a bulkhead supported on the track means for movement thereon from a retracted to an extended position, the 'bulkhead including aseries of vertical channel beams, a hatch cover includ ing a pair of supporting arms projecting at one end into the channels of two of the beams and pivoted thereto, a second 'track means adjacent the top of the car beyond the hatch opening, and means slidably supporting the opposite ends of the arms on the second track means.

11. A movable frigerator car or the like having a hatch opening in its top comprising track means in the car longitudinally coextensive with the hatch opening, a bulkhead supported on the track means for movement thereon from a retracted to an extended position, ahatch cover movably mounted in the upper portion of the car' and extending from side to side .thereof, and means connecting the hatch cover to the bulkhead so that it will underlie the hatch opening when the bulkhead is moved to its retracted position.

means in the car longi-' the hatch opening. a

bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or 12. A movable bulkhead structure for a. re-

the like having a hatch opening in its top comprising track means in the car longitudinally coextensive with the hatch opening, a bulkhead supported on the track means for movement thereon from a retracted to an extended position, a hatch cover movably mounted in the upper portion of the car and extending from side to side thereof, a pair of tracks mounted on the sides of the car slidably supporting one end of thehatch cover, and means co'nnecting the other end of the hatch cover to the bulkhead. 13. A-movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like comprising track means adjacent the top of the ca'r, a bulkhead below the track means, adjustable means suspending the bulkhead from the track means and including an Operating lever swingable about a horizontal axis on the bulkhead to raise and lower the bulkhead, and latch means operable automatically when the lever is swung to a position to raise the bulkhead to engage the lever and latch it in that position.

14. A` movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like comprising track means adjacent the top of the car, a bulkhead below the track means, a lever pivoted on a horizontal axis on the bulkhead, means connecting the lever to the track means so that when the lever is swung down the bulkhead will be raised, and a latch member pivoted on the bulkhead to Swing down when the lever swings down to latch the lever in its down position. v 15. A movable bulkhead structure for a refrigerator car or the like comprising track means adjacent the top of the car, a bulkhead below the track means, a lever pivoted on a horizontal axis on the bulkhead, means connecting the lever to the track means so that when the lever is swung down the bulkhead will be raised, a latch lever pivoted on the bulkhead on a horizontal axis above the pivotal axis of the lever, and means on the free end of the latch lever to engage the lever and. hold it in its down position.

JOHN S. LUNDVALL. 

